This time, it did not take long for the Dawn to reach Holly's location.
And there...
"What is that? An egg?"
The Communion's believers crowded around the portholes and looked outside.
Following the Difference Engine's guidance, they had found an enormous egg, several meters tall, floating quietly in the sea.
The believers found it strange, but no one said anything. None of them knew whether this was yet another hallucination.
"Let's take it back first," Elliot said after a moment's thought.
The Dawn had made special preparations for situations like this. A net flew out from the stern, scooped up the egg, and then the ship headed toward the shipyard in the Harbor District.
What, how were they supposed to find the direction of the Hearthfire District out at sea?
Indeed, after the mission to retrieve Holly ended, the Difference Engine did not guide him back.
But Elliot had another method.
He had deliberately left a [Vessel] aboard the ship sent by the Hearthfire District, then relinquished control of that [Vessel].
And Vanessa's [Compliance] could detect the direction of empty [Vessels] over quite a large area!
After retrieving Holly, Elliot relinquished control of Vanessa and let her follow her own sense of that [Vessel].
Meanwhile, Elliot controlled the ship above, taking the empty [Vessel] toward the Hearthfire District.
He was using the [Vessel] as a navigational beacon.
Elsa had gained another use.
Once they entered the coastal waters of Saint Clair, everything became simple. That inexplicable confusion of perception and senses weakened and then vanished. With no further need for guidance, the Dawn made its own way back.
They brought the egg back with a few scares but no mishaps.
Elliot looked at the Difference Engine.
The egg also had a Card, bearing the name [Holly Strauss].
He had intended